NFL Analyst Gives Travis Hunter a Bold Reality Check on 2-Way Expectations With Jaguars

Travis Hunter presents himself as one of the most intriguing players to enter the NFL in recent years because of a unique trait: his ability to play on both sides of the ball. With the Colorado Buffaloes, he won the Heisman Trophy as the best collegiate player in the nation precisely because of this rare aspect of his game.

However, there is still skepticism among the media and analysts about whether he can sustain this in the NFL, given the higher level of competition. An NFL analyst argued that Hunter might face a reality check once non-contact practices are over and the physical nature of the game starts to hit him.

Louis Riddick Remains Skeptical About Travis Hunter’s Two-Way Production

Hunter’s talent is undeniable. At Colorado, he stood out as a wide receiver catching passes from quarterback Shedeur Sanders, racking up 1,258 receiving yards in 13 games with 16 total touchdowns throughout 2024. Also, as a defensive back, he recorded four interceptions and 11 pass breakups in his final year of college, numbers that placed him at the highest tier entering the draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has already stated that the plan is to use him in both roles in the NFL, starting on offense and then gradually incorporating him into the defense.

However, Riddick pointed out during a June 13 edition of “The Rich Eisen Show” that if the Jaguars truly commit to this plan, reality could hit hard for the rookie once he faces a level of physical competition far beyond what he experienced in college.

“I mean, obviously he’s playing against 11 five stars on the other side of the ball, every game,” Riddick said. “He don’t have like one or two, and then a couple of three stars and a couple of guys who will be, you know, and it’s not like it’s bad to work at Goldman Sachs, but guys who are going to be working at Goldman Sachs on Wall Street next year.”

With the draft process filtering only the very best college players, Riddick raises a valid point. Hunter’s production is undeniably tied to his talent, and he could very well succeed as either a wide receiver or a cornerback in the NFL. However, both roles will demand an immense amount of study and physical dedication, at a level where it is already difficult to stay at the top even focusing on just one position.

Coen mentioned a few weeks ago that Hunter is primarily focusing on offense for now, but he will inevitably be part of defensive meetings as well. The head coach explained that by studying his offensive reps, Hunter is also indirectly learning Jacksonville’s defensive system, which should make the transition less complicated.

“Every hit that he takes, every route that he runs, every wide receiver that he covers, every tackle that he makes is physically going to take a toll on his body. That’s going to be measurably more significant than when it was to Colorado. It just is. So can he keep up the same pace at the NFL level that he could at the college level?” Riddick added.

The analyst also pointed out that the key issue is that Hunter was drafted with the second overall pick, which means the franchise expects him to be part of its long-term plans, not just for his rookie contract. With that in mind, it might not be the best idea to continue using him on both sides of the ball and risk shortening his career.

The most likely scenario is that Hunter fully transitions into a wide receiver and develops as a true difference-maker on offense. The high draft capital spent to acquire him makes it unlikely that he will primarily play as a cornerback, with his defensive snaps likely coming in specific packages.

Hunter wants to give it a shot, and in his rookie year, Coen appears willing to test how far the experiment can go.